Master Step heel is a significant improvement to the three decade run the “standard” boot heel tech fitting has enjoyed.

Compared to the brain swelling complexity of “tech” toe fittings used in ski touring boots (stay tuned for additional reports, making them isn’t easy), heel fittings haven’t been through much evolution until recently. We like the new Master Step version as it appears to enjoy a steroid enhanced connection to the boot. But the earlier “standard” heel fittings, properly maintained, did fine for millions of skiers over decades of use (with exceptions we mention below). Herein, the basics for those of you new to ski touring gear: we report on what Dynafit will be supplying for tech heel boot fittings, 2017 and onward. (Please note this post was made possible by Dynafit financial support, while we retain 100% editorial control.)

Historical note: Other than very early prototypes, the original retail Low Tech heel fittings invented by Fritz Barthel we’re virtually the same thing as what’s presently the “Standard” fitting. This is the steel lug you’ll find embedded in the heels of literally millions of ski touring boots manufactured over the past thirty years. Considering its minimal attachment (small screw and a couple of pins pressed into holes) it was amazing how few people experienced failure of this part.

Nonetheless, the fitting coming off the boot heel has not been an unknown occurrence. This especially so for ski mountaineers who spend time off skis, hiking in rough rocky terrain where the fitting can be pried or otherwise peeled as if attacked by tiny destructo-gremlins hiding in the rocks. (Yes Virginia, gremlins exist, if you have standard tech fittings and use your boots hard, we continue to recommend yearly maintenance).

Masterstep fittings are held with a screw inside the boot, as well as pins that press into the boot shell.

The standard rear fittings always worked for us — but the new ones are looking super nice. Both the Master Step and Master Step Light “bolt” into the boot internally. That’s a much better configuration than the sometimes fragile, single tiny screw of the standard fitting. Further, the full Master Step fitting boasts four anchor prongs. Fair to say it’s “twice as strong,” as Dynafit states. (We experimented some time ago with retrofitting a through-bolt for the heel fitting, was interesting.)

Master Step full version (light version has 2 anchor prongs instead of 4.

The added strength of Master Step is particularly important for the “free touring” segment of the sport, as aggressive skiing by strong athletes can demand binding retention settings that verge on astronomical — sometimes providing a max setting of “DIN” 16. That corresponds to 160 Nm torque, or 118 foot pounds. That’s equivalent of applying 118 pounds of your body weight to a 1 foot long pry bar. (Note, the regular Master Step fitting (not the light version) is also said by Dynafit to “step into the Beast 14 and 16 bindings _without_ a Power Insert heel adapter.)

Clearly, Master Step fittings will hold you in. On the other hand, it’s worth mentioning that in terms of release and retention, they perform exactly the same as the standard tech fitting. Read on.

Vertical heel travel of a classic tech binding is dictated by how far the binding pins move down and out of the binding as your heel moves up — minimal distance as indicated by the arrow.

Ski touring boot heel tech fittings function as a “wedge” in release modes. If you take a fall and need a forward-upward release at the heel, the fitting is pulled up between the two horizontal binding pins of what we call “classic” tech bindings. The pins spread under tension, allowing you to pop out. This is a smart, minimalist system, but suffers one indigenous challenge. Most ski bindings allow quite a bit of vertical elasticity at the heel, before release occurs. This serves as a shock absorption system for typical loads your body puts on the binding while you’re racing downhill. Tech bindings using the fittings illustrated here have markedly limited vertical elastic travel at the heel.

Power Insert heel adapter by Dynafit. A nice upgrade for aggressive skiers (works with any classic tech binding) but unnecessary if you use the regular version Master Step.

Thus, while most skiers infrequently (or never) experience problems caused by this, stronger athletes who ski aggressively may release out of the binding accidentally unless the binding heel is set at higher tensions than that same skier could use with a binding having better travel-elasticity. Such bindings would include nearly any alpine skiing binding, as well as a few hybrid touring bindings.

I mention the elasticity issue to be complete. It’s not a deal breaker for most skiers, and indeed a recent trend to “retro” type tech bindings (e.g. Dynafit Speedfit & TLT Speed) shows how wonderful the original system is. Indeed, for the most efficient human powered skiing, using the “classic” tech binding mechanics with two pins at the boot heel is what we continue to recommend. It’s how you’ll get the lightest and most efficient bindings under your feet. At least for now. In a few years, who knows?

Sidebar: For readers new to ski touring, a photo review. Basic ski touring boot with tech fittings at toe and heel. Rear fitting here is a “standard,” used industry wide before Master Step. At the toe, a Quick Step In (QSI), identified by the small notch below the fitting socket. These are somewhat easier to step into, but not greatly so. Most of using tech bindings efficiently and gracefully is about practicing techniques for entry and exit. Most require a bit more “English” (or is that German?) than step-in type bindings that snap a clamp down on the heel of your boot.

Comments

14 Responses to “Dynafit Tech Heel Inserts — Part 2 — State of the Union”

XXX_er
September 5th, 2017 11:08 am

” Most of using tech bindings efficiently and gracefully is about practicing techniques for entry and exit. ”

that ^^ would be a good subject for an artical maybe even some movies

I think the reason some skiers lock out their bindings is that they don’t observe and develop the proper snow-clearing protocol

so miss it once, the
ski falls off and they complain about tech bindings falling off

Stokes
September 5th, 2017 11:42 am

^ I agree. See far too many (nearly all) users stepping into bingings and setting off before cycling through a simulated ‘tour step’ to clear the sockets.

See
September 5th, 2017 7:02 pm

I use tech bindings. I like them, and I rarely lock them out. But I have had a few experiences where I’m pretty sure they were prereleasing at the toe because chatter inducing conditions were overcoming the toe spring tension, not because I had failed to clear ice from the sockets/under the toe arms. In my experience, this problem only occurs under certain firm conditions. It isn’t something I worry about most of the time. But I believe it is a real phenomenon, at least with older Dynafit bindings (the only ones I’ve experienced this with). Of course, maybe it’s just me, but the fact that this question hasn’t been decisively resolved after countless skier hours on tech bindings is kind of my point re. data.

Rob
September 6th, 2017 1:39 am

Are this year’s boots (2017/18) all going to be equipped with the new heel inserts? Or at least most of them? Do you know if the Maestrale RS2 is?

Rob
September 6th, 2017 1:45 am

Does that mean that the only reason for the Beast heel inserts was that the original heel insert might get pulled out while using the Beast bindings? Or are there other modifications to the shape of this new heel insert?

Rob, the Beast heel inserts served two purposes, they were stronger, but apparently they also protected the boot heel shelf from possible damage when using Beast bindings. Master Step is a bit thicker than the “Standard” fitting but it doesn’t appear to do what the “Power Insert” did in terms of creating a steel rim and shelf.

The question is a bit moot, as all Beast bindings are discontinued, though a few are still in the retail pipeline.

Not sure if I made it clear, but there are two versions of the Master Step heel fitting. They look the same from the outside near as I can tell, but one has 4 anchor prongs and the other has two, and is called the “Master Step Light.” Any of the lighter weight Dynafit boots will probably have the “Light” version.

Regarding Scarpa and other brands, for 2017-2018 you’ll only find Master Step fittings in Dynafit boots, Scarpa will continue to use QSI, and other boots using “Certifed” fittings will have the standard version. This according to Dynafit folks.

You guys reminded me… i need to do a basic comparison photo of the old and new fittings. I’ll get on that! No rest here! (smile)

Lou

Mark W
September 6th, 2017 11:56 am

So, can older boots be retrofitted with the new fittings? Just curious. I did have a heel fitting failure once, and it wasn’t super fun; pseudo-telemark turns followed the loss of fitting in the backcountry.

For 2017-2018 you’ll only find Master Step fittings in Dynafit boots, Scarpa will continue to use QSI, and other boots using “Certified” fittings will have the standard version. This according to Dynafit folks.

Newcomers to the sport, note that the majority of non certified fittings are perfectly fine, but all fittings should be bench tested before leaving the ski shop.

Rob
September 7th, 2017 1:52 pm

Yeah I saw some photos of the RS2 and it looks like the old fitting. Thanks for confirming.

And the reason I was asking about the Beast compatibility is because I have a pair of Beast 16, that I hadn’t mounted anywhere yet, partly because I didn’t want to put the insert on my boots.

Mark W
September 12th, 2017 8:44 am

Yeah, if figured the older boots couldn’t be retrofitted for the new fittings given the way their affixed within the heel.

Lou, your caption on the Beast Power Insert mentions that it’s compatible with any classic tech binding – is that the case? I’ve been reading up on this because I’m looking at a used setup with Beast 16s that would require I install the insert. I’m concerned about compatibility/usability down the road if I want to use another binding. Was a bit (pleasantly) surprised to see this definitive statement. I assume it’s contingent on properly spacing the heel and binding on a future setup. Since I have you here, are boots at all compromised after the insert is removed? Does one just plug the holes? And any word on drilling into the tech pads of a Solomon quest boot – I think I’ll be ok, but haven’t seen anyone do it. Thanks so much! (first time posting, but have really appreciated this site over the past year or so).

Nad
February 7th, 2018 11:46 am

Does anyone know where to purchase the inserts without rubber, sole or boot?

Name (required)

Email Address (will not be published, required)

Website (not required)

Speak your mind... Note we permanently store your email address (not displayed) when you comment, please contact us for removal. We also temporarily store your IP number when you comment. If you don't want us to store this information, please opt out by not using our comment system.

Check box to left for notification when new comments are added. (Uses the email address you entered while making comment. )

While you can subscribe to comment notification by checking the box above, you must leave a brief comment to do so, which records your email and requires you to use our anti-spam challange. If you don't like leaving substantive comments that's fine, just leave a simple comment that says something like "thanks, subscribed" with a made-up name. Check the comment subscription checkbox BEFORE you submit. NOTE: BY SUBSCRIBING TO COMMENTS YOU GIVE US PERMISSION TO STORE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS INDEFINITLY. YOU MAY REQUEST REMOVAL AND WE WILL REMOVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITHIN 72 HOURS. To request removal of personal information, please contact us using the comment link in our site menu.

If you need an emoticon for a comment just copy/paste off the following list, or use text code you might be familiar with.
:D :-) :( :lol: :x :P :oops: :cry: :evil: :twisted: :roll: :wink: :!: :?: :idea: :arrow:

Due to comment spam we moderate most comments. Please do not submit your comment twice -- it will appear shortly after approval. Comments with one or more links in the text may be held in moderation, for spam prevention. If you'd like to publish a photo in a comment, contact us. Guidelines: Be civil, no personal attacks, avoid vulgarity and profanity.

Your Comments

ree: Cool rig. I would expect there to be some condensation issues, esp. if you...

Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information & opinion website. Lou's passion for the past 50 years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about ski touringand is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free ski touring news and information here.

All material on this website is copyrighted, the name WildSnow is trademarked, permission required for reproduction (electronic or otherwise) and display on other websites. PLEASE SEE OURCOPYRIGHT and TRADEMARK INFORMATION.

We include "affiliate sales" links with most of our blog posts. This means we receive a percentage of a sale if you click over from our site (at no cost to you). None of our affiliate commission links are direct relationships with specific gear companies or shopping carts, instead we remain removed by using a third party who manages all our affiliate sales and relationships. We also sell display "banner" advertising, in this case our relationships are closer to the companies who advertise, but our display advertising income is carefully separated financially and editorially from our blog content, over which we always maintain 100% editorial control -- we make this clear during every advertising deal we work out. Please also notice we do the occasional "sponsored" post, these are under similar financial arrangements as our banner advertising, only the banner or other type of reference to a company are included in the blog post, simply to show they provided financial support to WildSnow.com and provide them with advertising in return. Unlike most other "sponsored content" you find on the internet, our sponsored posts are entirely under our editorial control and created by WildSnow specific writers.See our full disclosures here.

Backcountry skiing is dangerous. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of ski mountaineering, skimo randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information and news on this website is intended only as general information. Due to human error and passing time, the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow owners and contributors of liability for use of said items for ski touring or any other use.